Production of high-pressure steam for motive purposes



June 1 1926.

S. H. SHEPHERD PRODUCTION OF HIGH PRESSURE STEAM FOR MOTIVE PURPOSES Filed oct. 13. 1925 lv by w ,l l nld IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIJA Patented .lune l, l92tl.

SYDNEY HOWARD SHEPHERD, GF

sesam CRICKLEVJOD, LGNDON, ENGLAND.

LPRODUCTON OF HIG-I-IFPRIESSEE STEAM "aT-OR MTIVE PURPOSES.

`Application filed October 13, 1925, Serial No. 62,3%, and in Great Britain May 23, 1924.

This invention has reference to improvements in the method of and apparatus for producing, at a high temperature and pressure, steam suitable for use in an engine, and 5 it has for its object to enable such steam to be produced in a more economical and advantageous manner than heretofore usual.

F or this purpose, water is forced under pressure through a conduit or conduits in which it is gradually or successively raised to a temperature corresponding, or approximately so, to that corresponding to the pressure of the steam to be produced, the water thus heated being projected into the upper part of a steam generating chamber and brought into` contact therein with a highly heated body or surface so that it will immediately be converted into steam, the steam so produced being then led from the upper part of the steam generating chamber through another conduit and projected through the upper part of a separately heated steam superheating chamber and into contact with another highly heated body or surface in such chamber wherein it is allowed to eX- pand and which has an outlet at its upper part, any water present with the steam in the steam generating chamber, or in the superheating chamber, being allowed to se-V parate from the steam and fall into a lower heated portion of the chamber in which it can gradually be evaporated, so that high pressure superheated steam can be led off from the Yupper part of the superheating chamber in a dry state through another conduit to an engine or other device in which it is to be utilized. rl`he heating of the said bodies may advantageously be effected by the combustion of liquid fuel, preferably a heavy hydrocarbon oil, such for example as Mexican fuel oil, which has a high specific gravity, say for ezm1nple,.905,and is capable of evolving, when burnt, a very high temperature. In this case, the highly heated products of coinhustion escaping from the combustion chamber used for heating the bodyv against which the highly heated water, preferably in the form of spray, is first projected, may be utilized, to a large extent in heating the water on its way to the steam generating chamber. rlhe heated body for the steam generating chamber andy for the steam superheating chamber may advantageously be constituted by the wallof the corresponding combustion chamber.

Steam generating and superheating devices adapted to wor-lr in the manner set forth can be variously constructed. Y

Conveniently, each of these devices may be constituted by two cylindrical metal tubes having dome shaped upper ends arranged concentrically one within the other, at a suitable distance apart, and connected together at their lower ends i-n a uid tight manner, as for example by screwing, so as to form an upper hollow part-spherical chamber having a lower narrow annular shaped extension,

the two chambers of the two devices being in communication at their upper ends with one another, and the steam generating chamu ber having an upper inlet for water and the steam superheating chamber having an upper outlet for highly superheated steam. 'ihe heating of the inner or lower wall of each chamber, which also forms the wall of the corresponding combustion chamber, may

1 ..1 L l advantageously be ellected by the combustion within the latter chamber of a jet of liquid fuel issuing from a burner nozzzle to which it is supplied, under pressure, through a coiled pipe arranged within the combustion chamber, so that the Afuel will becomek highly heated on its way to the nozzle. The steam generating device has associated therewith a water supply chamber having an inlet for connection to a feed water supply pump and an outlet connected to a nozzle device whereby water can be injected into the upper end of the steam generating chamber. Also, associated with the steam generating chamber and water supply chamber are' means whereby water will become heated to a high temperature during its passage from the latter chamber to the steam generating chamber by heat derived from the hot eX- haust products of combustion flowing from the combustion chamber associated with the steam generating chamber. The steam superheating device may be lagged or other tional detail view.

" tube 7c.

In the example shown, the steam generator comprises two concentricall.,v arranglfedV cylindrical tu es (L and ./i havingV dome shaped upper ends surrounded by twn shuilarly shaped and concentrically arranged tubes c and Z also haring dome shaped upper ends. the two outer tubes beine' secured together at the lower ends in a rluid tight manner, as by screwing as shown, lilre the two inner tubes constitutingl between theirthe steam generating chamber c. T he inner of the. two outer tubes. namely c, is spaced ata short distance from the outer tube o wall et the steam generator, so as to form threwith an annular flue f that is in communication at one side with the lower end o the Correspending,T combustion chamber g `formed by the inner'tube or wall a ot'the steam generator and at the opposite side with an exhaust outlet 7i. rhe inner tube c ot thetwo outer tubes is also spaced at a distance from the outermost'tube ci so as to form therewith a water supply chamber i'v ,vhieh isprovided with a tubular screw threaded nipplez'l tor connection with a 'feed water supply pipe j and pump jl. Extending axially through and screwed to the dome shaped upper ends of the two outer tubes c and Z and the upper end of the outer tube or walls?) ot the steam generator7 so as to;

i'orni a fluid tight `iointwith Yeach ot them, is an axially arranged tube that is preyided at its lower end.y within theY steam generating' chamber e, with nuts m. on?, the lewer ot' which namely m, is adapted. as by means ot pertorations in? therein to he in communication with the interior of the said tube il: to form a water spraying` nozzle adapted to project water on to the top ot the wall o' of the steam generator. Fir-:ed centrally within the axially arranged tub-e and so as to formV therewith a longitudinal annular water inlet passage n, is a pipe o the lower end o1 of which tits within the spraying' nozzle m1 and is open to the steam generating` chamber e and Ythe upper end otl which communicates with. the upper .rid portion ot the central passagethrough the Theannular passage n is incommunication through one or more lateral holes y) in the `tube 7c with the water supply chamber 7'. The arrangement is such that water (which may be supplied from a feed water heater) delivered under pressure into the chamber z'. will pass through the Ylateral holes p in the tube la, into the annular water inlet. passage. n and thence through the spray'nrg` nozzle m1 on to the topv of the tube a forming the roof of the combustion chamber g the water during its passage through the. chamber i and tube 7a being' heated to a high temperature by the highly heated products of combustion flowing' 'from the combustion chamber g through the fine f, as and for the purpose hereinbetore mentioned.

' the bottom of the steam generati lilith a View to preventing any water that may assume the spheioidal condition upon contact witlr the heated rootl of. the combustion chan'iher g, :t'rom rolli'gj down to gj'chamber e, the said root may, as shown. be prorided with a series ot ctmccntrically arranffed upwardly andl outwardly evlt'enzling iangesV i. Also, with a View to prewn water assuming the Vsl'iheroidal torni.y or for breaking up any water e'lol'iiihe formed, the said roof may be provided with a number ot upwardly exte pointed projections ias shown Y irny water that mayfall to the annular bottoni of the steam generating char ci wil readily be evaporated by the heated wal i el the combustion chamber with which it will be in contact The steam superheater comprises two coaxiall'y arranged tubes s and t haring dome shaped upper ends spaced apart like those a and Z), comprisin; the steam generator. The' upper end ot the outer tube is proride-d with a central screw threaded tulni'iar nipple t1 carrying a tube u extending into the superheating chamber 'r formed between the, two tubes .s and s1 is the correspon-ling)` combustion chamber l'ornied by the tube s.

The top ot the tube c of the :steam gein erator chamber c is connected to the nipple il ot the steam superheating chamber v bj.' a pipe fw andA suitable screw coupling devices 'w1 and wg. rEhe pipe may. as shown. hare an expansion coil w3 in itsV lengthe Any water that may be present with the steam inY the superheating chamber o can tall to the a'i'nnilar-bottom ot the superheatingl chamber where it will readily be evaporated by the heated wall s ot the combustion chamber with which it will be in contact. rhe :outer tube or wall t the steam superheatine' chamber is provided at its upper part with a lateral screw nipple t2 for connection to an engine or otherdeyice in which the. super heated'steam produced is to be utirn The 3U.. steam generator and steam superheater may. as shown. advantageously Ybe arranged side by side and Ybe carried by a plate r common to them.

The liquid fuel burners'for use in heating the steam Igenerator and super-heater are arranged'within and carried by a stationary casing y/ to which thi'l plate ,r carrying` the said steam generator and superheater may be connected in a removable manner, asr by joining' it. at one side at '2/1 to the casing and detachably connecting?r it thereto, as by a piyoted screw s and nut .el at the opposit-e side, so that the plate af with attached parts can. when desired, readily be turned to one Side tor gaining' access to the burners and to the combustion chambers g and s1. 'Each fuel burner may, as

Cil

`with the burner nozzle 3.

shown, comprise a length of piping l connected at one end to a tubular oil supply nipple 2 fixed to the lower portion ot the casing g/ which may, as shown, be of truncated conical shape. At its other end the tubing l is connected to a centrally arranged upwardly extending burner nozzle 3 carried by the said nipple 2. An intermediate portion ot the piping l is termed into a conical shaped coil la arranged above and co-aXial Arranged above anc cc-axial with the burner nozzle 3 is a tube l, l, ot double conical truncated shape, the upper portion 1l. otwhich serves to support the coiled portion l ot the pipe l. Each tube l, lfL is provided with an outer annual conical portion 5 supported within and by the casing y and serving as a par tition to separate the corresponding coinbustion chamber g' or s1 from the lower part oi the casing which is provided with one or more openings 6 for admitting air to the burner nozzle 3. Each burner tube il, 4a is also provided with an external segmental shaped partition 7 arranged to bear against a portion of the lower end ot the combustion chamber wall a or s.r rihe casing y, at a part thereof above the annular conical partitions 5, is provided with an exhaust opening 7L. The arrangement is such that the hot products ot' combustion :trom the combustion chamber g of the steam generator are caused to iiow from one side ot the bottom thereof into the lower end of the Hue j surrounding the steam generator a-b Vand alter flowing upward therethrough, to

descend at the opposite side and thence pass to the exhaust outlet 7L, whilst the hot products of combustion will pass direct from the lower end oie the combustion chamber s1 of the steam superheater s, t direct to the said exhaust outlet L. rlhe oil supply nipples 2 at the lower ends or" the casing may each be Vcoupled to a pipe 8 that is common to them and is adapted to be coupled at one end 8a to a liquid fuel supply pump 8X. The other end 8b ot the said pipe may be closed, or, as shown, in dotted lines, it may be adapted to be coupled to a liquid fuel reservoir 8C containing air under pi ssure, so that should the pump cease to worl; tor any reason, liquid ifuel will automaticall' be supplied to the burner nozzles 3 by the air under pressure past a non-return ball valve 9 that is automatically held closed when the pump is working. The exhaust outlet z may be connected to a chimney in the case where the apparatus is used with stationary engine, or, as shown, to a horizontal induction pipe 10 when the apparatus is mounted on a vehicle, so that in each case the products of combustion will be caused to flow away by an inducing` action. ln the latter case there may be arranged at the junction oi the exhaust outlet 71, and inc Thus, tor a thirty brake' horsel power engine, the steam generator with associated water supply chamber and intermediate tlue, may, Yl'or example, be ol'f a height of about twelve inches and a diameteroiz about seven inches, the steam superheater having a height of about seven or eight inches and a diameter oiLl about tour and a halt inches. These dimensions are hou/'crei' only given by way ot example.

The details ot' construction can be variously modified and the parts subject to heat be made ot metal capable ot resisting coriosion at high temperatures.

llhat l claim is l. in apparatus for the production oi steam at high temperature and pressure, comprising a steam generator and a steam superheater each comprising two cylindrical metal tubes having dome shaped upper ends arranged concentrically one within thcv other at a suitable distance apart and connected together at their lower ends in a {luid-tight manner so as to torni an upper hollow parti-spherical chamber having u lower narrow annular shaped extension, means concentric with the steam generating chamber adapted to supply heated water under pressure to said chamber and means adapted to place the steam generating and superheating chambers in cou'iuuinication at their upper ends and the heating cliainber having an outlet i per end for the discharge of sup steam under pressure.

An a; at tor the pr steam at l temperature comprising in combinaerator having conceut i steamgenerating and bers, a pass ige tor wereA leading from wat.er-recei"ng chamber into said s' generating chamber and steam cutieu troni said steamgenerating chamber; a m0 super-he r combined with said s :ani-

generator having a combustion chaine upper inlet for steam suppied troni A generator., and an upper outlet for superm, JIJ) heated steam; a conduit connecting the steam outlet of the steam generator to the ste-ani inlet ot the steam suiiciheater; a awater ieed conduit connected to a water inlet ot the steam-generator; means `tor forcing water-luider pressure through said Conduit into the ruiter-receiving clian'ibe-r ot' sind generator and ineens causing' the onibustion troni one ot nibers to heet the water aid conduitor the product.

hotproduct i the conibustion eli steziin p )erfituie en( comprising ii` coiiiiiniition, e s eriitor haring an upper inet for upper outlet for steain and ehainber; an associated heffing an upper inlet for steun outlet .superhezited t i bustioii cheniliier; e coin steani outlet ot the strain inlet ot' t' water lit f iiith oi e another geen et. fin apparatus for `the production of steain it high temperature :ind pressure.

coiiiprising in combination, a stezin Y erator and associated steinn siinerheater each coinprisinel two nieuil tubes haring; doiiie shap d upper ends eiraiged coneentricallj; one within the other at a suitabie die` apart and connected together a their ends in a tiuid-tight manner, forming; un upper hollow parti-spherical than1 nier liaring a lower narrow annular shaped extension, the inner tube in each euse, providingl a fuel combustion chamber; e writer heater concentric with the steain generator and connected with the upper pzirt ot the latter; a steain conduit connetingthe upper part ot the steani generator to the upper part of the steiini superlieuter; a steain outlet Connection in the upper part ot' seid superlieeter. liquid i'iiel burners arringed subjacent euch ot said combustion chambers und liquid iuel feed conduits exteiidiiig` into said combustion chambers and connected wiih said bu ners 5. tu apparatus for the pri'iduction ot steain ut high teinperzituie and pressure, embodying in eondiinatioii a steain generator :uid associated steiun superheater each coinprising' so iuetiil tubes havin i' l' oonie shaped upper ends arranged conceiitrically one within the other at suitable distances iipart. and connected togethe' at their lower ends' in a Huid-tight inanner to torni upper hollow parti-spherical chambers haring' lower narrow annular shaped extensions, the inner tube in each ase providing e, combustion chamber; ay water-liea er comprising two cylindrical nietal tubes having deine-shaped upper ends arranged concentri allyY with one another at a. distance apart and connected together a' their lower ends in ay fluid-tight manner, said heater beingy arrangid con- 1it-rrcalljf with und over the tubes coinng tie nerzitor to forni therewith un anniv ,e in coiniiiuniczition at one lside with tl'ie combustion eliziiuber ot tue et'einn generutor and at another side with un oitiet for hot products of combusli uter tube ot' said water-heater li'u'- er under pie Cure: i pipe and .fixed to the upper of the weten he steani greni e 'iors ot said r .-ci'zit'oi together a tubular con- Y oti the steain chambers; a i the. upper part ot and liquid tuei iw und adapted to heat combustion chiiiulieis. production oi' 1,-. tall/el. L

hill

the outer ibe ot the inner pair 'toi-nung' an annular space or flue therebetween, the

inner tube oi the inner pair ot tubes providing u combustion chamber iii open coininunica 'ion with the lower end of said space or iiue at one side thereof; ineens closing the, space between said fluo and combustion clnunber at opposite sides thereof; a pipe extending through :ind connected to the upper ends of the tubes coiiiprisingi' the vaterlieat'er :ind the upper end ot the outer tube ot the steain generator and establishing coin` iniinicatiin between the interiors ot' said \\'ate:'lic;iti,r and sieaiii generator; :i wziter Sprzijr'ing device connected to the end of the pipe openingI into the steiiin generator: :i ste-ini siperheuter toi-ined ot' two @omzentr 'ally dispos tubes uri-:ii d :uljiu'ent to said w'atenheu-ur, haring4 ili'iine-sliaped ippei' ends closingh the sinne.Y and their lower endsl eorineeted together in a Huid-tight iniiiuier with the inner ot thc last mentioned pair o'r' tubes` providing aV combustion chainbei; a tubular connection between the upper ends ot said steain Ijene'ator :ind super heater; u steain outlet connection in the steiiin superheater and ineaiis lor heating the walls oi" the respective combustion chambers.

7. )in appeatus for the production ot steam at. high temperature and pressure7 comprising in combination, a steam generator; a steam superheater and v-.f'ater-heater, each comprising a pair oit tubes connected together at their lower ends and having dome shaped upper ends; the inner tubes ot the steam generator and steam superheater respectively forming the walls or" combustion chambers open at their lower ends7 said water-heater being arranged concentrically with and over the steam generator to form therewith a flue in communication at one side with the adjacent louer portion of the combustion chamber ot the steam generator and having an inlet for the admission of water under pressure; a tubular connection between the water heater and steam generator; a tubular connection between the upper ends of the steam generator and said steam supperheater; a steam outlet connection from the steam superheater; a

Vsu ort carri in the said steam 'enerator steam superheater, and water heater; a casing arranged below said support to which the latter is movably connected; and burners carried by said casing and arranged below said combustion chambers.

S. An apparatus for the product-ion ot steam at high temperature and pressure, comprising in combination, a steam generator, a steam superheater and a water-heater; each comprising a pair otl tubes connected together at their lower ends and having dome-shaped upper ends, the inner tubes ot the steam generator and steam superheater respectively forming the walls ol' combustion chambers open at their lower ends; said water-heater being arranged concentrically with and over the steam generator to form therewith a flue in communication at one side with the adjacent lower portion et the combustion chamber ot the steam generator and having an inlet tor water under pressure; a tubular connection between the water heater and steam generator; a tubular connee Iion between the upper ends of the steam generator and steam superheater, a steam outlet connection tor the steam superheater; a support carry the said steam gen'erater, steam superheater and water-heater, a casing arranged. below the support to which the latter is movably connected; oil burners carried by said casing and arranged below said combustion chambers, said casing having inlets for the admission orP air to said burners and an exhaust opening in communication with the outlet end of said ilue and with the combustion chamber et said superheater tor expelling burnt gases therefrom and means within the casing separating said air inlets from said exhaust opening.

9. An apparatus for the production of steam at high temperature and pressure, comprising in combination, a tubular waterheater, steam generator and steam superheater connected together at their upper ends in series, with a water inlet at one end and superheat-ed steam outlet at the other end, said steam generator and steam superheater each having tubular combustion chambers open at their lower ends and said water heater and steam generator b ig arranged to provide a flue therebetween in communication at a side with one side et the combustion chamber ot the steam generator; a support carrring said parts; a easing to which said support is movably connected; said'casing having inlets `tor the admission ot air to said combustion chambers and an outlet tor products et combustion from said flue and .the combustion chamber of the steam superheater; Iliquid Jiuel nozzles and burners carried by said casing and arranged below said combustion chambers; a liquid fuel supply pipe arranged between each nozzle and its corresponding burner and extending upward into the associated combustion. chamber, part ot the length or" each pipe being coiled within its corresponding burner, and partitioning means arranged to separate the air inlet openings in said casing from the exhaust outlet therein and to partly support t-he coiled portions of said pipes.

lO. in apparat-ns for the production of steam at high temperature and pressure; comprising a steam generator having a highly heated body against which heated water is projected to term steam; a steam superheater having a highly heated body upon which steam is proiected to superheat the same; means 'tor placing the upper ends ot said generator and superheater in communication with one another; means tor heating the steam generator; means tor heating the steam superheater; a water chamber concentric with t-he steam generator and connected therewith; means Jior Jforcing water under high pressure through said water chamber and into said steam generator and means tor heating the walls et said water chamber whereby water flowing therethrough may be heated to a temperature corresponding substantially to the pressure ot the steam to be produced, the surface of the highly heated body against which wate;` at high temperature and pressure is no jeeted being provided with means adapted to break up globules of water coming into contact therewith.

Signed at London7 England, this thirtieth day of September, 1925.

SYDNEY HOWARD SHEPHERD. 

